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Jennifer Daugherty's family testifies her torture, murder left devastating impact in their lives
'The music is gone,' Daugherty's sister told jurors about her absence
Jennifer Daugherty just wanted friends, her family told jurors. She wanted acceptance, to be a part of something. Her pursuit for happiness led her straight to death, and the commonwealth is pursuing death for the man convicted of killing Daugherty.During day two of testimony in the sentencing phase for Ricky Smyrnes, Daugherty's mother, stepfather and sister took the stand, testifying to Daugherty's character. "Lighthearted and happy; she'd do anything in the world you'd ask her to do," her stepfather Bobby Murphy said of her."She always wanted to be part of the group, no matter what that group was," sister Joy Daugherty Burkholder said of her. "She saw the best in everyone. If someone was mean, she thought they were having a bad day and she would have been nicer to try and make them happy," Burkholder added.The same jury that convicted Smyrnes on Thursday of six felony charges, including first-degree murder, is hearing testimony to determine whether to sentence him to death or life in prison without parole. The convictions stem from the February 2010 torture and stabbing of Daugherty, a Mount Pleasant woman who was living with mental disabilities and considered Smyrnes and the rest of the so-called "Greensburg 6" friends."I didn't realize at the time how she did add to life until she was murdered; her absence is indescribable. The music is gone. The sun still shines and the earth still moves, but the music is gone," Burkholder told jurors of Daugherty's murder. "I can't have fun anymore because part of me is gone," her mother said.Court adjourned around noon Wednesday and will not reconvene until Monday, as Judge Rita Hathaway will be attending a judicial conference. The prosecution will present more witnesses before the defense plans to bring mental health experts and Smyrnes' family members to the stand.Defense lawyer Terri Faye is handling the sentencing phase and plans to present witnesses who will testify Smyrnes is mentally retarded. If the jury finds he is mentally retarded, he will be ineligible for the death penalty under Pennsylvania law.Smyrnes is the convicted ringleader of the "Greensburg 6," the group of six co-defendants charged in the torture and killing of Daugherty. She had a romantic interest in Smyrnes. Smyrnes' then-girlfriend Angela Marinucci became upset over Daugherty's interest in Smyrnes. She was previously convicted and sentenced to life in prison for her role in the killing.Co-defendants Melvin Knight was already sentenced to death in the case. Amber Meidinger, Peggy Miller and Robert Masters are awaiting trial.
GREENSBURG, Pa. —
Jennifer Daugherty just wanted friends, her family told jurors. She wanted acceptance, to be a part of something. Her pursuit for happiness led her straight to death, and the commonwealth is pursuing death for the man convicted of killing Daugherty.
During day two of testimony in the sentencing phase for Ricky Smyrnes, Daugherty's mother, stepfather and sister took the stand, testifying to Daugherty's character. "Lighthearted and happy; she'd do anything in the world you'd ask her to do," her stepfather Bobby Murphy said of her.
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"She always wanted to be part of the group, no matter what that group was," sister Joy Daugherty Burkholder said of her. "She saw the best in everyone. If someone was mean, she thought they were having a bad day and she would have been nicer to try and make them happy," Burkholder added.
The same jury that convicted Smyrnes on Thursday of six felony charges, including first-degree murder, is hearing testimony to determine whether to sentence him to death or life in prison without parole. The convictions stem from the February 2010 torture and stabbing of Daugherty, a Mount Pleasant woman who was living with mental disabilities and considered Smyrnes and the rest of the so-called "Greensburg 6" friends.
"I didn't realize at the time how she did add to life until she was murdered; her absence is indescribable. The music is gone. The sun still shines and the earth still moves, but the music is gone," Burkholder told jurors of Daugherty's murder. "I can't have fun anymore because part of me is gone," her mother said.
Court adjourned around noon Wednesday and will not reconvene until Monday, as Judge Rita Hathaway will be attending a judicial conference. The prosecution will present more witnesses before the defense plans to bring mental health experts and Smyrnes' family members to the stand.
Defense lawyer Terri Faye is handling the sentencing phase and plans to present witnesses who will testify Smyrnes is mentally retarded. If the jury finds he is mentally retarded, he will be ineligible for the death penalty under Pennsylvania law.
Smyrnes is the convicted ringleader of the "Greensburg 6," the group of six co-defendants charged in the torture and killing of Daugherty. She had a romantic interest in Smyrnes. Smyrnes' then-girlfriend Angela Marinucci became upset over Daugherty's interest in Smyrnes. She was previously convicted and sentenced to life in prison for her role in the killing.
Co-defendants Melvin Knight was already sentenced to death in the case. Amber Meidinger, Peggy Miller and Robert Masters are awaiting trial.
